Although Manchester United has had a successful first season under Erik ten Hag, it does appear that they are losing steam as the season draws to a close.
Back-to-back losses to West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion had put their chances of finishing in the top four in jeopardy, which would have been a disgrace given how confident they once appeared to be in bringing Champions League football back to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are once again in the lead over their rivals Liverpool after stopping that mini-collapse against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Dutch tactician will probably already be thinking about how he can strengthen this team that has served him well given the success of this debut season. Since the starting XI has been constrained by numerous injuries in a variety of positions, it is true that the main cause for concern would be to increase the depth surrounding that group.
Although Marcel Sabitzer filled in admirably for Christian Eriksen while he was out with an injury in January, the Austrian is no match for some of the skilled replacements this sizable club could bring in.
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However, the Bayern Munich maestro on loan has made his intentions known, saying, “I found my place here. The Premier League is the best, I can say now that I am familiar with it.
What recent news regarding transfers at Man United?
According to Football Insider, recent news indicates that a potential £30 million offer to sign Mateo Kovacic is now being prepared, which could be bad news for Sabitzer.
It had been assumed that the Red Devils were merely keeping an eye on the Croat, but it now seems that they are about to become more involved.
The United hierarchy appears to believe they have a good chance of acquiring the midfielder, but only if they can get the selling team to lower their asking price.
For Chelsea, how has Mateo Kovacic performed?
The 29-year-old player, who is just entering his prime, could prove to be a fine coup for Ten Hag, giving his team, which already includes Casemiro and Raphael Varane, a true winner.
The midfielder for the Blues, who is the proud owner of four Champions League titles in addition to many other honours, has struggled this season in what has been a terrible time of transition for the west London club.
However, according to Sofascore, the former Real Madrid star only just last season managed to keep up a 7.20 average rating in the league while recording two goals, five assists, 1.1 key passes, and two tackles per game. He was truly regal, and he has largely maintained this form throughout his entire time at Stamford Bridge.
Even Jurgen Klopp questioned how to defend the midfielder in 2018 after praising the World Cup semifinalist for “running like a Formula One car”.
Sabitzer has done a good job filling in, scoring three goals and dishing out one assist across all competitions, but Kovacic’s experience, as it was with Eriksen, would be crucial.
The choice of who to sign becomes obvious if the latter turns out to be a viable option because he has quietly been one of the Premier League’s highest-performing stars in recent years. If this plan is successful, Ten Hag will undoubtedly fire Sabitzer.
